The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-06-09
/. OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. O., June 6, 1887.
The National Drill has closed, and was
carried on on such grand scale that
the Managers have to make up purse of
$40, 600 4 to meet the deficit. Unfortu.
snately We had rain every afternoon Of
the drill after the first day until the close
of the week, so that thousands Of persons
were kept away. The rain also so inter-
fered for three nights with the pyro-
:technie arrangements that thousands Of
dollars were lost, As a military display
the drill was a grand success, and every
visiting company left for home delighted
with its treatment End determined to
come again if the drill be repeated.
Several of the companies were SO
charmed with the beauties Of the City
that they remained until nearly the end
of the week after the drill closed on
Monday. The Minnesota company that
won the second infantry prize we're the
guests ofthe National Rifles of this place
after the close of the drill, and on, Thurs.
day were taken to Mt. Vernon and
treated TO q Potomac plank shad bake,
which is an ericurean feast purely local
to this section Of the country. The
delicious Potomac shad were taken
directly from the river, split in two, and
pinned to an immense oak or chestnut
plank which had been heated through
from face to face by wooden fire bnilt
in front Of it. The heat Of the blazing
FIRE on one side and the hot plank on the
other side 10 which the shad is pinned,
soon broils the shad through and through
and imparts to it most delicious flavor
not to be attained in any other way, and
so far beyond all comparison that you
must partake of the feast to form any
conception of the delicate favor.
Champagne is the usual beverage that
goes with plank shad, and it always flows
freely on such occasions.
The American Fisheries Society, the
American Chronological Society, the
American Physicians. Society. and the
Mechanical Engineers Society, have all
held conventions in, our City this week.
They found the City 80 attractive just
now in its spring dress that the sessions
have mostly been held at night, 30 =,
give the members an opportunity to see
the, beauties of art and nature by day
light. The President of the Mechanical
Engineers Society, Geo. Il. Babcock, of
New York, said in his opening address
that the American people were hardly
aware of the beautiful Metropolis which
the Capital city had become. and said
that the magnifcence of the buildings
and cleanly and beautiful stretch of
avenues and streets were only equalled by
the warm hospitality of the people.
The Fisheries Commission has been
somewhat saddened by the sudden illness
of Prof Baird, of the Smithsonian Insti.
tute, the father Of fish culture in this
country. The fact that so many ,promi.
nent public men have died sitter brief
illness within the past month has caused
much alarm concerning the Professors
illness, but his physicians pronounce
him now. out of danger. The affection is
of the kidneys.
During the Presidents absence in the
woods of New York State the Executive
is being overhauled, and when
be gets back it will have been trans
formed from its gorgeous winter dress
into its light and cool costume of the
summer. II is not expected Chat the
President will leave the City again until
Fall, and he and Mrs. Cleveland will
take up their abode at Oak View for the,
Summer. :.
). Now that the enforcement Of the Sun.
dsy Law is being tested in the Courts,
the people through the newspapers are